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| German driver Nico Hulkenberg was Force India's 2011 reserve driver |
Sahara Force India have announced reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg will step up to join Scotland's Paul di Resta in their 2012 team.
Hulkenberg, 24, will replace German compatriot Adrian Sutil, who has been tipped to join Williams.
The Silverstone-based team tweeted: "It's official! One of the most exciting pairings on the grid."
Di Resta enjoyed a promising debut season as Force India finished sixth in the 2011 Constructors' Championship.
PAUL DI RESTA FACTFILE
- Team: Force India
- Nationality: British
- Born: 16/04/86 in Livingston
- Grand Prix record: 19 races, 27 points
Sutil, who leaves after six seasons with the team through its various guises, also finished a career-high ninth in the drivers' standings - 15 points clear of Di Resta.
Di Resta enjoyed a superb second half of the season, finishing in the points in seven of the final nine grand prixs, including a high of sixth in Singapore.
For Hulkenberg, it is a return to Formula One after he was dropped by Williams at the end of his rookie season in 2010.
Team principal Vijay Mallya said: "In Paul and Nico we have two extremely talented drivers with tremendous potential.
"Paul caught the eye of everybody in the pit lane during his rookie season.
"His speed, maturity and race craft confirmed we were right to believe in him and we look forward to working with him again next year.
NICO HULKENBERG FACTFILE
- Team: Force India
- Nationality: German
- Born: 19/08/87 in Emmerich
- Grand Prix record: 19 races, 22 points
"As for Nico, we identified him as a rising star at the end of 2010 and chose to evaluate him during the course of this season.
"Despite having only limited time in the car, he convinced us that he deserved a race seat for 2012.
"Our new line-up means we say goodbye to Adrian, who has been with the team since we entered the sport.
"He has been an integral part of our success over the past four seasons and we wish him well for the future."
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